Insulated mug

ABSTRACT

An insulated mug includes a tubular coupler, an outer container shell, an inner container shell, a buffering member, a first annular gasket, a lid, and a second annular gasket. The upper and lower external threads of the tubular coupler are respectively engaged with the internal threads of the lid and the internal threads of the outer container shell. An insulating space is defined between the outer container shell and the inner container shell to reduce thermal conduction between the two shells. The inner container shell is snugly sandwiched between the first annular gasket and the buffering member to protect it against shock or vibration. The lid, fitted with the second annular gasket, is in sealing engagement with the tubular coupler to prevent a beverage contained in the inner container shell from spilling.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an insulated mug and, more particularly, to a mug that employs a tubular coupler to connect with an outer container shell for fixing an inner container shell in the outer container shell and defining an insulating space between the two shells so as to reduce thermal conduction between the two shells, so that the temperature within the inner container shell can be maintained.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

After insulated mugs or drink containers appeared in the market, their structures are modified in various aspects for increasing the insulation performance. In earlier period, stainless steel is used to make insulated mug. Later, some manufacturers employ electrical power to help maintain the temperature of beverages contained in mugs. In recent years, plastic or multilayer composite material is used to make insulated mugs. However, conventional mugs have some disadvantages, for example, a conventional mug, which is made of glass and coated with silvered material, is easy to break and difficult to carry, and furthermore, when containing a hot beverage, it may cause a scald and thus does not allow a user to consume the beverage directly; for a mug, which is made of plastic material, it may produce weak acid or weak base when containing a hot or cold beverage; for a mug made of stainless steel, it is usually heavy and thus difficult to carry, and furthermore, when the mug contains a hot beverage, its good thermal conductivity will keep it from being contacted by a user for a direct drink, and still furthermore, since the mug is usually formed by welding, leakage may occur due to a welding defect, and yet still furthermore, when using nitrogen as an insulating gas, there will be additional cost in manufacturing the mug; for a mug made of ceramic material, it is fragile and the manufacturing cost is high, and furthermore, the insulation performance is not good.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to provide an insulated mug that is simple in structure and can be operated more safely.

The insulated mug comprises a tubular coupler, an outer container shell, an inner container shell, a buffering member, a first annular gasket, a lid, and a second annular gasket. The outer container shell is provided with internal threads on its inner surface. The buffering member is placed on an inner surface of a bottom of the outer container shell. The inner container shell is located in the inner container shell and placed on the buffering member. The tubular coupler has upper external threads and lower external threads on its outer surface and an inner projecting ring on its inner surface. The first annular gasket is located between the inner projecting ring of the tubular coupler and the top of the inner container shell. The lower external threads of the tubular coupler are engaged with the internal threads of the outer container shell. The inner projecting ring of the tubular coupler forces the first annular gasket to have the inner container shell snugly sandwiched between the first annular gasket and the buffering member, so that the inner container shell is securely fixed in the outer container shell and an insulating space is defined between the outer container shell and the inner container shell. The lid defines an annular recess at its inner top surface for receiving the second annular gasket and is provided with internal threads on its inner surface. The internal threads of the lid are engaged with the upper external threads of the tubular coupler. The lid forces the second annular gasket against the tubular coupler, so that the lid is in sealing engagement with the tubular coupler, so that a beverage contained in the inner container shell can be prevented from spilling. The insulating space between the outer container shell and the inner container shell can reduce thermal conduction between the two shells, so that the heat of a hot beverage contained in the inner container shell, which is transferred to the outer container shell, will be greatly reduced. When a cold beverage is contained in the inner container shell, the temperature within the inner container shell, which is affected by the outside environment, will be greatly reduced, so that the cold beverage can remain a low temperature. For a drink, the tubular coupler is used to contact a user's mouth instead of the inner container shell, so that a scald caused by a hot beverage can be prevented. The lid and the outer container shell can be easily disconnected from the tubular coupler, which allows all components of the mug to be easily dissembled for a cleaning, so that foreign matter or odor attached thereto can be removed easily. If required, the user may replace either of the components. Furthermore, a filtration screen can be provided on the inner projecting ring of the tubular coupler to facilitate making leaf or fruit tea. Still furthermore, the outer container shell can be provided with drawings, characters, or patterns of different colors for an aesthetic appearance or an easy recognition.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an insulated mug according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a 3-dimensional view of the insulated mug of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the insulated mug of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a working view of the insulated mug of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the insulated mug of the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, an insulated mug according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown, which generally comprises a tubular coupler 1, an outer container shell 2, an inner container shell 3, a buffering member 4, a first annular gasket 5, a lid 6, and a second annular gasket 7.

The tubular coupler 1, which is made of food-safe, heat-resistant plastic material, has upper external threads 11 and lower external threads 12 on its outer surface and an inner projecting ring 15 on its inner surface and defines an annular groove 13 between the upper external threads 11 and the lower external threads 12. Furthermore, the tubular coupler 1 is provided at its outer surface with two opposite downwardly extending hooks 14 immediately above the annular groove 13, wherein the annular groove 13 can be fitted with a closed band 16 to facilitate a user to carry the insulated mug.

The outer container shell 2, which is made of food-safe, heat-resistant plastic material, defines a top opening and is provided with internal threads 21 at its inner surface, near the top opening.

The inner container shell 3, which is made of heat-resistant glass material, defines a top opening surrounded by its top edge 31 and has an external diameter less than the outer container shell 2. The inner container shell 3 is located within the outer container shell 2.

The buffering member 4, which is an annular structure made of safe-food, heat-resistant silicone material, has a base, an outer enclosing wall 41 projecting upwardly and downwardly from the base, and a plurality of inner enclosing walls 42 projecting upwardly and downwardly from the base, wherein the outer enclosing wall 41 has a height greater than the inner enclosing walls 42, and the base defines a plurality of venting holes 43. Furthermore, each of the inner enclosing walls 42 is tapered in its section.

The first annular gasket 5, made of food-safe, heat-resistant silicone material, is placed between the inner projecting ring 15 of the tubular coupler 1 and the top edge 31 of the inner container shell 3.

The lid 6, which is made of food-safe, heat-resistant plastic material, defines a bottom opening and is provided with internal threads 61 on its inner surface and defines an annular recess 62 at an inner top surface thereof.

The second annular gasket 7, made of food-safe, heat-resistant silicone material, is received in the annular recess 62 of the lid 6.

In assembling the above components of the insulated mug of the present invention, the buffering member 4 is first placed inside the outer container shell 2 and on an inner surface of the bottom of the outer container shell 2. Then, the inner container shell 3 is placed on the buffering member 4. Next, the first annular gasket 5 is placed on the top edge 31 of the inner container shell 3. Further next, the tubular coupler 1 is connected with the outer container shell 2 by engaging its lower external threads 12 with the internal threads 21 of the outer container shell 2. Finally, the lid 6, fitted with the second annular gasket 7, is connected with the tubular coupler 1 by engaging its internal threads 61 with the upper external threads 11 of the tubular coupler 1, wherein the second annular gasket 7 is placed on top of the tubular coupler 1. As such, the inner projecting ring 15 of the tubular coupler 1 will force the first annular gasket 5, the inner container shell 3, and the buffering member 4 towards the bottom of the outer container shell 2 to allow the inner container shell 3 to be snugly sandwiched between the first annular gasket 5 and the buffering member 4, wherein an insulating space 8 can be defined between the outer container shell 2 and the inner container shell 3 due to the dimension difference between the two shells. The outer enclosing wall 41 will fit about the bottom of the inner container shell 3, wherein the bottoms of the outer and inner enclosing walls 41, 42 will abut the bottom of the outer container shell 2, while the tops of the inner cylindrical walls 42 will abut the bottom of the inner container shell 3. The elasticity of the silicone material used in the buffering member 4 allows the outer enclosing wall 41 to be slightly deformed so as to snugly fit about the bottom of the inner container shell 3, so that the inner container shell 3 can be firmly supported by the buffering member 4. As such, the insulating space 8, the function of which is similar to a vacuum, can effectively reduce thermal conduction between the outer container shell 2 and the inner container shell 3. Furthermore, the buffering member 4 and the first annular gasket 5, both being made of silicone material, can protect the inner container shell 3 against shock or vibration. The lid 6, fitted with the annular gasket 7, will be in sealing engagement with the tubular coupler 1 to prevent a beverage contained in the inner container shell 3 from spilling Furthermore, a filtration screen 9 can be provided on the inner projecting ring 15 of the tubular coupler 1 to facilitate a user to make leaf or fruit tea in the inner container shell 3.

Particularly, in assembling the present invention, a user may hold the outer container shell 2 by one hand while rotate the tubular coupler 1 with respect to the outer container shell 2 by the other hand gripping the downwardly extending hooks 14, so that the tubular coupler 1 can threadedly connect with the outer container shell 2. Then, the lid 6 can be rotated with respect to the tubular coupler 1, so that the lid 6 can be threadedly connected with the tubular coupler 1. In dissembling the present invention, the user may hold the downwardly extending hooks 14 by one hand while rotate the lid 6 with respect to the tubular coupler 1 by the other hand, so that the lid 6 can be disconnected from the tubular coupler 1, or the user may hold the outer container shell 2 by one hand while rotate the tubular coupler 1 with respect to the outer container shell 2 by the other hand gripping the downwardly extending hooks 14, so that the tubular coupler 1 can be disconnected from the outer container shell 2.

In light of the foregoing, the present invention has the following advantages:

1. Through simple structure, wherein the insulating space 8 is defined between the outer container shell 2 and the inner container shell 3, thermal conduction between the two shells can be effectively reduced, irrespective of a high-temperature or low-temperature beverage being contained in the inner container shell 3.

2. Through simple technical means, wherein the buffering member 4 and the first annular gasket 5 are employed, the inner container shell 3 made of glass material can be snugly fixed in the outer container shell 2 to protect it against shock or vibration.

3. The present invention can be easily assembled or dissembled to facilitate a user to clean or replace the components.

4. Through the tubular coupler 1, a hot beverage contained in the inner container shell 3 can be reduced to a lower temperature suitable for a user to contact the tubular coupler 1 for a direct drink without causing a scald.

5. The outer container shell 2 and the lid 6 can be provided with drawings, characters, or patterns of various colors for decorations.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. In an insulated mug including an outer container shell defining a top opening, an inner container shell of heat-resistant glass material defining a top opening and having an external diameter less than the outer container shell and located within the outer container shell, and a lid of food-safe, heat-resistant plastic material defining a bottom opening, wherein the improvement comprises: the outer container shell is provided with internal threads at its inner surface, near its top opening; a buffering member, which has an outer enclosing wall and a plurality of inner enclosing walls, is placed on an inner surface of a bottom of the outer container shell, wherein the outer enclosing wall has a height greater than the inner enclosing walls, and the outer enclosing wall is fitted about a bottom of the inner container shell; a tubular coupler of food-safe, heat-resistant plastic material, which has upper external threads and lower external threads on its outer surface and an inner projecting ring on its inner surface, is connected with the lid and the outer container shell, wherein an annular groove is defined between the upper external threads and the lower external threads, and the lower threads are engaged with the internal threads of the outer container shell; a first annular gasket of food-safe, heat-resistant silicone material is placed between the inner projecting ring of the tubular coupler and a top edge that surrounds the top opening of the inner container shell; and the lid is provided with internal threads on its inner surface for engaging with the upper threads of the tubular coupler and defines an annular recess at an inner top surface thereof for receiving a second annular gasket that is placed on top of the tubular coupler; whereby the inner projecting ring of the tubular coupler will force the first annular gasket, the inner container shell, and the buffering member towards the bottom of the outer container shell, so that the inner container shell is snugly sandwiched between the annular gasket and the buffering member, so that the inner container shell is securely fixed in the outer container shell, and the lid is in sealing engagement with the tubular coupler to prevent a beverage contained in the inner container shell from spilling.
 2. The insulated mug of claim 1, wherein the outer container shell is provided with drawings, characters, or patterns on its outer surface.
 3. The insulated mug of claim 1, wherein a filtration screen is provided on the inner projecting ring of the tubular coupler to facilitate a user to make leaf or fruit tea in the inner container shell.
 4. The insulated mug of claim 1, wherein the tubular coupler is provided at its outer surface with two opposite downwardly extending hooks immediately above the annular groove; the annular groove is fitted with a closed band to facilitate a user to carry the insulated mug. 